The Sneetches
What can a children's story from the early 1960's teach us today?
Plenty.
In fact, our society is much in need to hear and implement the teachings of Dr. Seuss in this story.
Choose any topic in the area of race, religion, or politics and you will probably find people with raised voices, bulging eyes, and protruding veins on their necks. Folks do a lot more talking these days than they do listening.
There is little discussion and much screaming of talking points. Perhaps they should be called screaming points. Why all the vitriol?
Somewhere along the line Americans decided to stop allowing freedom of speech unless they agree with the speech. When I was growing up, I used to hear this phrase:
I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death to defend your right to say it.
I heard more than one WWII Vet say that and I figure those words were not idle chatter.
Today, things are off tilt. We have adopted the Jerry Springer method of debate. That is when at least two ignorant people talk about something neither one knows anything about. The talk quickly escalates to yelling, finger pointing, name calling, and then finally, fisticuffs or other forms of violence.
We are a society of wimps who cannot handle a contrary opinion or a characterization of which we do not agree. Instead of writing the speech off as something we do not agree with, we now become offended. Like babies we cry for apologies and demand money.
When I was a kid and someone called you a name on the playground the philosophy was, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.”
Those who ran and told the teacher were scorned as “tattle tales.”
“Words will never harm me,” is a state of mind. The only words that can harm a person are the words they take on and believe.
These days, words seem to harm a lot of people. Are they really harmed or are they simply jumping at a perceived opportunity to gain politically or financially?
On the other hand, people find it completely appropriate to lie and misrepresent. Rules of logic are ignored and discussion goes nowhere.
Citizens and good neighbors have a responsibility to speak truthfully and with respect. Tolerance grows out of an honest mind.
The press is not a source of news, but a catalyst to inflame any situation. They look for conflict like a starving man searches for food. If they cannot find conflict, they create it where it did not exist.
At times, my voice is raised and perhaps I don’t listen like I should. I will hurl insults with the best of them. I get angry and exhibit the very behaviors I detest in others. This post is an attempt to light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.
At some point we need to stop talking about the problem and work on a solution.
Sylvester McMonkey McBean said, "You can't teach a Sneetch," but the Sneetches proved him wrong. Granted they had to lose all of their money before they learned, but they learned just the same.
I know I am preaching to the choir here, but it is important to stand up and say what is right and what is true. Arguing, misrepresentation, violence, and repression of thought lead to destruction. Folks need to lighten up. We need to separate issues from people.
I can like someone with whom I do not agree on a topic, it just takes a little more effort.
Until the next time
John Strain
Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 1:01AM 
